Device for treating the hair, using a refill

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a device (1) for treating the hair, comprising: —a structure for accommodating a refill (10) of hair treatment product, —a steam generator for outputting steam onto the hair at a rate of less than 10 g/min, —a refill detection element that detects said refill when it is mounted on the accommodating structure, the device (1) being designed to pass into a refill-free mode if no refill (10) is detected by the detection element, the operation of the steam generator in this refill-free mode being different than its normal operation when a refill is present.

The present invention relates to devices that use a refill to operate and more particularly to devices for treating the hair such as straightening irons.

The refill contains a product to be applied to the hair, and optionally also an applicator that comes into contact with the region on which the product is intended to be deposited.

Devices for treating the hair by generation of steam coupled with the application of product are known. The steam makes it possible to enhance the performance ofthe product on the hair.

It is desirable for the operation of the device to be modified in the absence of a refill, in order to avoid inappropriate use thereof.

According to a first of its aspects, the invention meets this need with the aid of a device for treating the hair, comprising:

-   -   a structure for accommodating a refill of hair treatment         product,     -   a steam generator for outputting steam onto the hair at a rate         of less than 10 g/min,     -   a refill detection element that detects said refill when it is         mounted on the accommodating structure,         the device being designed to pass into a refill-free mode if no         refill is detected by the detection element, the operation of         the steam generator in this refill-free mode being different         than its normal operation when a refill is present.

Preferably, the device is configured to pass from the refill-free mode to the normal operating mode, also known as normal mode, when a refill is mounted on the accommodating structure.

Preferably, the steam generator operates at a lower level or is inactive in the refill-free mode. The expression “operate at a lower level” means that the quantity of steam delivered by the steam generator is less than during normal operation, or zero.

The device preferably comprises at least one heated straightening plate. The temperature of the heated straightening plate may be modified when the steam generator is in the refill-free mode; the temperature adjustment range of the heated straightening plate may be reduced or the heated straightening plate may be switched off.

Preferably, in the refill-free mode, the steam generator is switched off and the temperature adjustment range of the heated straightening plate is reduced. Thus, in the absence of a refill, the device operates in a refill-free mode in which straightening without steam remains available.

In a variant, in the refill-free mode, the steam generator and the heated straightening plate remain switched off. This makes it possible to completely prevent the device from being used in the absence of a refill therein.

The device preferably comprises two arms to be closed over the hair to be treated.

The device may comprise an electronic control circuit with an electronic memory, designed to detect the closure of the arms and the fitting of the refill by way of the detection element, the device being designed to increment a variable stored in a memory of the device during the use of the latter after the refill has been changed, the appliance being designed to increment in the memory a variable during the use thereof after the refill has been changed and to pass into a finishing-touch operating mode (also known as “downgraded operating mode”) in which the operation of the steam generator and/or of the straightening plate is modified, when said variable exceeds a first predefined threshold.

The functionalities afforded by the device in the finishing-touch mode may be the same as in the refill-free mode.

The finishing-touch mode advantageously allows the device to be used in spite of the refill being used up, this use being limited but sufficient to complete a treatment of the hair or to carry out finishing-touch operations.

The abovementioned variable may be proportional to the number of closures of the arms and may correspond to a fraction of the number of closures of the arms, notably to every fifth one thereof. This can make it possible to reduce the size of the memory and the cost of the electronic circuit.

The variable may incorporate the time for which the arms are closed over the hair, this making it possible to increase precision with regard to estimating the degree to which the refill has been used up.

The device may be designed such that the variable is reset when the refill is changed.

The device may be designed to pass into the finishing-touch mode if the variable exceeds a second predefined threshold, different than the first, notably lower than the first, over several uses between which the power supply to the device is cut.

The device may be designed such that the value of the variable is preserved when the device is switched off without the power supply of the device being cut.

Preferably, in the finishing-touch mode, the steam generator is switched off.

Preferably, in the finishing-touch mode, the operation of the heated straightening plate is modified, and notably the temperature adjustment range of the heated straightening plate is reduced.

The operation in the refill-free mode may be different than the operation in the finishing-touch mode, and notably the temperature of the heated straightening plate may be modified in the finishing-touch mode and the heated straightening plate may be switched off in the refill-free mode.

Preferably, the refill detection element is mechanical, notably being a contactor, or is of some other kind, notably electronic, magnetic and/or optical. The detection may be effected by direct contact of the refill with the detection element or by remote detection.

The steam generator may comprise an electrical resistor for steam production, and/or a reservoir of liquid, notably water, and/or a pump. The device may comprise a handpiece and a base station, the base station comprising the liquid reservoir.

Preferably, the accommodating structure comprises an insertion guide for the refill. This insertion guide may be designed such that the refill is fitted and removed by way of a sliding movement along the guide. Other movements for fitting the refill are also possible.

The detection element may be disposed at least partially in the insertion guide for the refill.

For example, the detection element comprises a projecting element in the insertion guide, against which the refill bears when it is inserted into the insertion guide. The projecting element protrudes enough to cause the detection element to change state.

In a variant, the detection element is situated elsewhere on the device.

Preferably, the device is designed to mechanically prevent the fitting of a refill that has previously been used and then removed. Thus, the refill becomes single-use.

Preferably, in order to prevent the reuse of a refill that has already been used, the accommodating structure comprises a relief that is positioned so as to act on an element that serves as a use memory for a refill when the refill is fitted on the device for the first time, so as to cause it to pass from an inactive configuration in which the element is set back from a space to an active configuration in which this element protrudes into said space, the accommodating structure comprising a locking member configured to intercept said element when the latter is in the active configuration, while the refill is being fitted in and removed from the accommodating structure, the element and the locking member being designed such that the locking member can be passed over by said element in the direction of removal of the refill and such that the locking member prevents said element from passing in the direction of insertion of the refill, if an attempt is made to reinsert a refill that has already been used.

The above features make it possible to block the fitting of the refill in a simple and effective manner if the latter has previously been used on the device.

The locking member may be able to move transversely to the direction of travel of said element in contact therewith, the locking member preferably being returned into the initial position by elasticity. It is embodied for example with a spring wire or by a movable part on which a spring acts.

It is possible for the locking member not to be symmetrical with respect to a median plane perpendicular to the direction of travel of said element in contact therewith.

Thus, the locking member may have contact surfaces for contact with said element that have different inlet and outlet slopes, having an inlet slope steeper than an outlet slope, the inlet slope preventing the passage of said element in the active configuration by forming a stop that prevents the travel of said element, and the outlet slope allowing said element to engage with the locking member so as to cause it to retract when said element passes in the direction of removal of the refill. The locking member is passed over in one direction by said element.

The locking element is preferably situated upstream of the abovementioned locking member so as to be actuated prior to the locking of the refill during the introduction thereof, in the case of a refill that has already been used. The device may comprise a second contactor which is only actuated once insertion of the refill is complete.

The device may comprise a contactor carried by one of the arms between the head of the arms and the articulation, notably a magnetic contactor of the reed switch type, for detecting the closure of the arms.

The element that serves as a use memory may be embodied in various ways. For example, the element is a pin that is able to move with friction in a corresponding housing in the refill, so as to maintain the active position once it has been brought into the latter.

Said element may be molded in one piece with a body of the refill, thereby simplifying production thereof.

In this case, the element has for example an active part that cooperates with the locking member in the active configuration and a connecting part that connects said active part to the rest of the refill at least in the inactive configuration. The refill may have a housing and the active part may be designed to be fastened in the housing, notably by snap-fastening, when said element is in the active configuration.

The connecting part is for example a film hinge or a severable bridge of material.

In one variant, the element may also be embodied in the form of a hook articulated on the body of the refill.

A further subject of the invention is an article for a hair treatment device as defined above, which is configured to be mounted removably on the structure for accommodating the latter such that its presence can be detected by the detection element of the device.

Such an article makes it possible to simulate the presence of a refill on the device, such that the device does not pass into the refill-free mode. Thus, with the aid of this article, the user can use the device in the normal mode.

Preferably, the article does not contain any cosmetic product. Thus, the user can use the appliance with all of its functionalities apart from the application of product.

When the refill-free mode corresponds to an operating mode in which the steam generator is switched off and the heated straightening plate remains switched on, the user can use:

-   -   the device without steam or application of cosmetic product,         with no refill or article on the device,     -   the device with steam but without application of cosmetic         product, with the article not containing any cosmetic product on         the device, or     -   the device with steam and application of cosmetic product, with         the refill on the device,         specifically without there being a need for an additional         programming action or control member on the device, simply by         changing the tool (article or refill) on the device, thereby         simplifying the use of the latter.

The article may have an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis.

The article may comprise a body and an absorbent element, notably made of felt, disposed in said body.

The article may comprise a means for fastening to the accommodating structure, notably a profile. This fastening means may comprise a profile, notably two profile elements that engage in an insertion guide of the accommodating structure along which the article moves when it is fitted on the appliance and when it is removed from the latter. Preferably, the profile elements extend in the direction of insertion of the article as it is fitted on the device and/or along the longitudinal axis of the article.

Preferably, the fastening means has the overall shape of a T slotted in the middle in cross section, the slot being made between the two profile elements.

Preferably, one of the profile elements comprises, at its rear end, a hook-shaped holding projection that is intended to engage with a clip of the device in order to keep the article in position on the latter.

Preferably, while the article is being fastened to the accommodating structure, the presence of the fastening means is detected by the detection element.

Preferably, the article is able to be inserted into and removed from the device more than once. In particular, the article has the same configuration between its insertion into and removal from the device. The article preferably does not have an element serving as a use memory and does not engage with the locking member. Thus, the locking member cannot prevent the reinsertion of the article, which may be used as many times as necessary. This is because, in the absence of cosmetic product, it is not necessary to prevent the reinsertion of the article.

Preferably, the article is configured to occupy the corresponding space in the accommodating structure, as a refill would.

Preferably, the article has an appearance substantially identical to that of a refill, except that it does not contain a cosmetic product.

Preferably, the article is configured not to come into contact with the lock of hair treated by the device and/or with a pressing element of the device when the device is being used to treat the hair.

Preferably, the article is made of a thermoplastic material such as PET, PBT, PA6,6, PP, POM, PC or SAN, notably PET, PBT or PA6,6.

A further subject of the invention is a range of accessories for a device for treating the hair as defined above, comprising at least two accessories, one of the accessories being a refill containing a hair treatment product, the other of the accessories being an article according to the invention.

Preferably, within this range, the refill and the article have the same overall shape. The article may be generally identical to the refill except that it does not contain any hair treatment product.

While the refill comprises a means that prevents reuse of the used-up refill, the article preferably does not have one, in order to allow it to be reused.

A further subject of the invention is an assembly comprising a device according to the invention and an article according to the invention, the device and the article preferably being initially contained in one and the same packaging.

A further subject of the invention is a method for controlling the operation of a steam generator in a device according to the invention or an assembly as defined above, comprising the steps of:

-   -   detecting the presence or absence of the refill or the article         on the accommodating structure of the device,     -   when the steam generator is in the refill-free mode and the         fitting of a refill or article on the accommodating structure of         the device is detected, activating or allowing the activation of         the steam generator.

The invention may be understood better from reading the following detailed description of nonlimiting illustrative embodiments thereof and from studying the appended drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of an example of a device, with the refill fitted,

FIG. 2 shows the device from FIG. 1 with the refill absent,

FIG. 3 shows part of the device from FIG. 2, with the cover of the upper arm removed,

FIG. 4 schematically shows a partial view of an example of a refill,

FIG. 5A schematically illustrates a perspective view of a variant refill,

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view on the plane VB-VB in FIG. 5A,

FIG. 5C schematically illustrates a perspective view of a variant refill, after the refill has been used,

FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional view on the plane VD-VD in FIG. 5C,

FIGS. 6A and 6B show respective side views of the refill from FIG. 4, before and after use on the device,

FIG. 7 schematically shows a perspective view of a variant refill according to the invention,

FIG. 8 is a schematic longitudinal section through the refill in FIG. 7,

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate the change in configuration of the refill from FIG. 8, before and after the use thereof,

FIG. 10 is an example of an algorithm that can be implemented during the operation of the device,

FIG. 11 shows, very schematically, the electronic circuit of the device, and

FIG. 12 shows, very schematically, a variant electronic circuit of the device.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the device 1, also known as appliance, to which the invention applies is a straightening iron, comprising two arms 2, 3 that are connected by an articulation 4 and carry heating elements 5, 6 on opposing faces of the arms. These elements 5 and 6 make up straightening plates.

This device 1 takes a refill 10 which is fastened to one of the arms, next to one of the heating elements, in this case the upper arm 2 and the heating element 5.

The refill 10, shown on its own in FIG. 4, comprises a body 11, for example made of PBT, which contains a product to be applied, in this case a cosmetic product to be applied to the hair.

The refill 10 also comprises an application means 13 for applying this product, such as a felt, for example, which comes into contact with the hair while the device is being used. The refill 10 has a means 12 for fastening it to an accommodating structure of the device, only a part of which has been shown in FIG. 2.

The product contained in the refill can be applied to the hair as the latter passes between the arms.

In the example in question, the means for fastening the refill to the device comprises two profile elements 14 and 15, which are inserted into guide elements provided on the corresponding arm.

The device comprises for example three guide elements 17, 18 and 19 that are intended to cooperate with the upper profile element 15, and two guide elements 20 and 21 that are intended to cooperate with the lower profile element 14, when the refill 10 is fitted on the device.

The refill 10 may comprise, at the rear, a hook 23 that is intended to engage with a clip 24 in order to keep the refill in position, this hook 23 being snap-fastened in the clip 24 at the end of its insertion into the device, for example, and being able to be withdrawn therefrom by a mechanism of the push/pull type or the like.

The device comprises a detection element 26 constituted by an electrical contactor which is actuated by the refill 20 when the latter is present, and which makes it possible to indicate the presence of the refill. This contactor comprises a lever 26 a against which a seal 26 b may press, said seal itself being actuated by a pusher 26 c.

The device 1 comprises a locking member 30, the role of which is to cooperate with an element 33 of the refill 10 that serves as a use memory.

The locking member 30 is returned elastically by a leaf spring 31 in this example and has, at the front, an edge 34 substantially perpendicular to the plane of the wall 35 to which the guide elements are attached, and, at the rear, a less steep edge 37.

The locking member 30 is disposed for example through a slot 36 in the wall 35 and can retract when the element 33 passes in the direction of removal of the refill.

In the example in question, the element 33 is in the form of a pin which is mounted with friction in a corresponding housing 42 in the upper profile element 15, as can be seen in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

The element 33, the initial inactive configuration of which is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, does not project into the space 43 defined between the two profile elements 14 and 15 before the refill is used for the first time, as can be seen in FIGS. 5B and 6A, notably.

The device 1 has a relief designed to move the element 33 when the refill 10 is fitted on the device for the first time.

In the example in question, this relief is formed by a ramp 45 of the guide element 18 situated at the rear edge 37 of the locking member 30. Thus, when the profile elements 14 and 15 slide in the guide elements when the refill is used for the first time, the ramp 45 is pressed progressively against the element 33 and pushes it into its housing 42.

The element 33 thus projects into the space 43 between the profile elements 14 and 15, as illustrated in FIG. 5D.

The locking member 30 engages between the profile elements 14 and 15 when the refill 10 is fitted on the device. Thus, during the insertion of the refill 10, the locking member 30 sweeps over the zone into which the element 33 extends once in the active configuration as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D.

The slope of the rear edge 37 of the locking member 30 is chosen such that the element 33 can deform the locking member 30 during the removal of the refill in order to retract and pass over said locking member 30.

The pusher 26 c which acts on the contactor 26 is situated upstream of the locking member 30 with regard to the direction of introduction of the refill 10 into the device 1. Thus, the contactor 26 is actuated even before the locking member 30 exerts its possible action of blocking the insertion of the cartridge.

The assembly formed by the refill and the device operates as follows.

The first time the refill 10 is fitted on the device, the ramp 45 causes the element 33 to move from the configuration in FIGS. 5A and 5B to the one in FIGS. 5C and 5D. This change in configuration takes place when the element 33 has already passed over the front edge 34 of the locking member 30, on account of the offset between this edge 34 and the ramp 45 in the direction of insertion of the refill 10. The locking member 30 therefore does not impair the fitting of the refill 10.

During the removal of the latter, the element 33 can pass over the locking member 30 on account of the slope of the rear edge 37 thereof.

However, if an attempt is made to refit the refill, the element 33 butts against the front edge 34 of the locking member 30 on account of the increased slope of this front edge 34, which prevents it from being passed over by the element 33. Therefore, the user cannot reuse the refill.

The element 33 that serves as a use memory can be embodied in various other ways and other than with the aid of a pin that is able to move with friction in a housing, as has just been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6B.

It is thus possible, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9B, to embody the element 33 in the form of a hook, comprising an end part 53 which catches in a housing 51 in the lower profile element 14 and a connecting part 52 which connects the end part 53 to the body of the refill. This embodiment makes it possible to form the element 33 by molding it in one piece with the profile elements 14 and 15 and the body of the refill 10.

When the refill 10 is fitted for the first time, the ramp 45 of the device presses against the element 33, for example at the elbow formed between the parts 52 and 53 of the element 33, and the part 53 is able to be snap-fastened in the housing 51, as illustrated in FIG. 9B.

The path followed by the locking member 30 relative to the refill 10 while the latter is being fitted is shown by way of a broken line in this figure.

FIG. 9A shows that, in the initial configuration, which corresponds to the one in FIGS. 7 and 8, before the refill is used for the first time, the end part 53 is situated above the path of the locking member 30 and therefore does not impair the fitting of the refill. In the active configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, once the end part 53 has been snap-fastened in the housing 51, it can butt against the locking element 30.

The device 1 comprises an electronic circuit 100, shown schematically in FIG. 10, which comprises an electronic memory 101, for example of the EEPROM type. This electronic circuit 100 is connected to the contactor 26 which is actuated while the refill 10 is being fitted on the device. It is also connected to at least one electrical resistor 102 for steam production, to one or more electrical resistors 103 for heating the elements 5, 6, and to one or more temperature sensors 104 that make it possible, for example, to know the temperature of the plates.

A switch 105, for example of the reed switch type, makes it possible to know the closed or open state of the device. The switch 105 is disposed for example on one of the arms and a magnet is disposed on the other of the arms so as to change the state of the switch 105 when the two arms 2, 3 are in the closed position. The switch 105 makes it possible to inform the electronic circuit 100 of the number of closures of the arms. The electronic circuit 100 is designed to be connected by a power cable 106 to the AC mains, for example the 110 V or 240 V mains.

The electronic circuit 100 may be in the form of one or more boards, some of which may be disposed in the handpiece and others of which may be disposed in the base station when the device has such a base station, which serves for steam production by containing for example a water reservoir and a pump.

Steam is preferably produced at a rate of less than 10 g/min.

The electronic circuit 100 comprises at least one component such as a microcontroller, programmed to execute an algorithm controlling the operation of the device, preferably in accordance with the diagram in FIG. 11.

The electronic circuit 100 is powered when the cable 106 is connected to the electric mains and can detect fitting of the refill when the device is switched off. The step 201 of connecting the cable 106 of the device to the mains makes it possible, in a step 202, to detect, by virtue of a contactor 26, the possible insertion of the refill 10 prior to the device 1 being switched on, in step 203, by pressing a corresponding button.

If the insertion of the refill is detected in step 202, then a variable ILS_nbr representative of the number of closures of the arms is initialized in step 204, even though the device 1 has not yet been started up.

When the device is switched on, in step 203, a detection of the presence of the refill is carried out in step 205. If the refill has not been fitted, which corresponds to the branch 206 in the diagram, the variable ILS_nbr is initialized in step 207 and the operation of the device 1 is effected in the finishing-touch mode, this being schematically indicated by the block 208 in FIG. 10. In this finishing-touch mode, the temperature is predefined so as to be non-adjustable, for example set to the value of 180° C., the generation of steam is prevented and cannot be activated, and the corresponding state is signaled to the user, for example by the flashing of an LED or the emission of an audible signal.

The device 1 remains in this finishing-touch mode until a refill is possibly inserted in step 209, in which case the device operates in a normal mode, depicted by the block 210 in FIG. 10, in which the temperature can be adjusted by the user, starting from a default value stored in the memory, which corresponds to the last use value in the normal mode. The steam generator is activated and the corresponding state signaled to the user for example by the abovementioned LED being illuminated in a non-flashing manner.

In the non-finishing-touch mode, the electronic circuit 100 detects the closure of the arms 2, 3 on the locks treated in step 211, so as to increment the variable ILS_nbr by a quantity representative of the number of closures. In order to save memory space, this variable is preferably incremented every n closures, where n=5, for example. Thus, every 5 closures, the variable ILS_nbr is incremented by 5 units.

In step 211, it is also possible to allow the user to modify the setpoint heating temperature of the plates. The quantity of water remaining for the generation of steam can be detected in order to trigger a corresponding alarm, if need be.

In step 212, a check is made as to whether the variable ILS_nbr is less than a predefined threshold n1, where n1=160, for example. If the variable ILS_nbr is less than n1, the cosmetic composition in the refill is considered not to have been used up and the device 1 can continue to operate in the normal mode, as is indicated schematically by the branch 213 in FIG. 11. If the value of the variable ILS_nbr becomes greater than or equal to the threshold n1, as is depicted by the branch 215, the device passes back into the finishing-touch mode, corresponding to the block 208 in FIG. 11. The setpoint heating temperature of the plates thus returns to the predefined value of the finishing-touch mode, the operation of the steam generator is interrupted, and the corresponding state is signaled by the display of the LED, which flashes.

If the device 1 is stopped without its power supply being cut, this being shown schematically in step 216, and the device 1 is then started in step 217, the stored value of the variable ILS_nbr is read in step 218. If this value is less than the threshold n1, as is depicted by the branch 219 in FIG. 10, the device maintains the normal mode depicted by the block 210. If the stored value of the variable ILS_nbr is greater than or equal to the threshold n1, the device passes into the finishing-touch mode, as is depicted by the branch 221 and the block 208.

If, when the device is on, the user removes the refill, as is depicted by the branch 220 and step 223, the variable ILS_nbr is reinitialized in step 224 and the device 1 passes into the finishing-touch mode.

Preferably, the device 1 is designed, in the event of a prolonged period of non-use, that is to say without closures of the arms 2, 3 being detected, to pass into sleep mode in step 230, until the on button is pressed in step 210.

The block 231 schematically indicates the case in which the device 1 is disconnected, in which case, when it is reconnected, the algorithm in FIG. 10 returns to step 201 described above.

Returning to the test in step 205, if the device 1 is started in step 203 with the refill 10 already fitted, this corresponding to the branch 234 in FIG. 10, the value of the variable ILS_nbr is read in step 235 and this value is compared with a second threshold n2, which is different from the threshold n1 and notably less than the latter. The threshold n2 is equal to 20, for example. If the value of the variable ILS_nbr is greater than or equal to n2, the device passes into the finishing-touch mode in step 208. This thus avoids operating the device in the normal mode if the user has disconnected and then reconnected the device with an already significant number of openings and closures of the arms, it being probable that the user has started to use the refill and has then allowed a non-negligible period of time to pass before resuming treatment, since disconnecting the device frequently implies that it has been stowed away. In the case of uses that are excessively spaced apart in time, the cosmetic composition contained in the refill is likely to evaporate, resulting in reduced effectiveness of the refill.

If the variable ILS_nbr is strictly less than the second threshold n2, the device can operate in the normal mode, corresponding to the branch 237 and the block 210 in FIG. 11.

The invention is not limited to the algorithm illustrated.

In particular, in a variant illustrated in FIG. 12, the step 208 described above can be replaced with a step 308 in which the device 1 is operated in a refill-free mode. In this refill-free mode, the heated plates are switched off, the generation of steam is prevented and cannot be activated, and the corresponding state is signaled to the user, for example by the flashing of an LED or the emission of an audible signal. The device 1 remains in this refill-free mode until a refill is possibly inserted in step 209. In steps 212 and 218, if the value of the variable ILS_nbr becomes greater than or equal to the threshold n1, as is depicted by the branches 315 and 321, respectively, the device passes into the finishing-touch mode, corresponding to the block 310 in FIG. 12. The device 1 remains in this mode until the refill is removed in step 223. In step 224, the variable ILS_nbr is reinitialized and the device 1 passes into the refill-free mode, corresponding to the branch 324 in FIG. 12.

It may also be advantageous to count not just the number of closures of the arms but also the duration of closure of the arms on the hair, which may be representative of the length of locks treated. This can make it possible to determine more exactly the degree to which the cosmetic composition within the refill has been used up and thus to signal the need to replace the refill more precisely to the user.

In order to determine the duration of closure of the arms, the electronic circuit 100 of the device is advantageously provided with a clock 110, shown by way of dotted lines in FIG. 10, preferably provided with a battery for saving the data in a clock memory.

In the example in question, the finishing-touch mode corresponds to operation without the steam generator at a predefined temperature of the heated plates.

In variant embodiments of the invention, the finishing-touch mode and/or the refill-free mode is different and corresponds for example to operation still with a possibility of adjusting the temperature of the heated plates, this preferably being more limited than in the presence of steam.

In a variant that is not illustrated, the device is designed such that it can identify the nature of the fitted refill, by virtue for example of one or more reliefs on the refill which encode information which is read by one or more corresponding contactors present on the device. In this case, it is possible to modify the threshold values, notably the first threshold n1, depending on the nature of the refill, for example in order to take into account the fact that the cosmetic composition is used up differently from one refill to another depending on the nature thereof.

It is also possible, in one variant, to store the duration for which a refill is present on the corresponding arm. This can notably make it possible to force the device to pass into the finishing-touch mode beyond a certain duration in order to avoid a situation in which the user carries out a treatment with a refill, the cosmetic composition of which may have lost its effectiveness on account of its evaporating, for example.

The refill 10 may be replaced by an article having the same structure as the refill 10 except for the element serving as a use memory and the cosmetic product, which it does not have. Thus, when it is fastened to the device in the same way as a refill 10, the article acts on the detection element 26 in the same way as the refill 10 would.

Needless to say, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described.

The element 33 is produced for example by being molded together with the adjacent profile element, being connected thereto by one or more severable bridges of material. Once in the active configuration, the element 33 can be held only by friction or, alternatively, by snap-fastening in the opposite profile element.

Although the invention has been illustrated in connection with a refill fitted on the device by a sliding movement, the invention also applies to refills that are fitted by a movement other than just a sliding movement, for example a rotational movement or a more complex movement including translational and rotational components, for example.

The detection element 26 which detects the fitting of the refill may be situated elsewhere on the arm, and notably be present within the push/pull-type mechanism which cooperates with the hook 23.

The detection element 26 may also be situated under the pressing element against which the application means 13 is pressed when the arms are closed.

The detection element 26 may be something other than a contactor, for example an optical detector which detects the presence of the refill 10 by reflection of a beam by the latter, a magnetic detector which detects the presence of a magnet or of a conductive element present on the facing refill when the latter is mounted on the device, or an electrical detector which detects the contact of a conductive element of the refill when the refill 10 is mounted on the device.

The locking member 30 may also be produced as a plastics part that is articulated about a pivot axis and is returned to its initial position by a coil spring.

The shape of the profile of the cartridge may be different from the overall T shape illustrated, and the element 33 can be moved in some other way than in the spatial direction defined between the two profile elements; for example, it can be moved in a direction parallel to the stem of the T.

The article may have a different structure than the refill. For example, the article does not have the felt, the housing normally provided for the latter on refills being open or closed. The article may be a part that does not come into contact with the hair or the pressing element when the arms are closed but acts on the detection element in order to be detected as a refill.

The article may be made from a different material than the refill.

If need be, the presence of the element 33 in the active configuration, that is to say after the refill has already been used, can be detected automatically if an attempt is made to fit the cartridge on the device, by virtue for example of a mechanical or optical sensor, in order to signal to the user the reason for which the refill cannot be fitted, for example by a message being displayed on a screen or by an indicator light being illuminated. 

1. A device for treating the hair, comprising: a structure for accommodating a refill of hair treatment product, a steam generator for outputting steam onto the hair at a rate of less than 10 g/min, a refill detection element that detects said refill when it is mounted on the accommodating structure, the device being designed to pass into a refill-free mode if no refill is detected by the detection element, the operation of the steam generator in this refill-free mode being different than its normal operation when a refill is present.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, which is configured to pass from the refill-free mode to the normal mode when a refill is mounted on the accommodating structure.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, the steam generator operating at a lower level or being inactive in the refill-free mode.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1, the device comprising at least one heated straightening plate, the temperature of the heated plate being modified when the steam generator is in the refill-free mode.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising two arms to be closed over the hair to be treated, the device comprising an electronic control circuit with an electronic memory, designed to detect the closure of the arms and the fitting of the refill by way of the detection element, the device being designed to increment a variable stored in a memory of the device during the use of the latter after the refill has been changed and to pass into a finishing-touch operating mode in which the operation of the steam generator and/or of the straightening plate is modified, when said variable exceeds a first predefined threshold.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 5, the operation in the refill-free mode being identical to the operation in the finishing-touch mode.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 5, the operation in the refill-free mode being different than the operation in the finishing-touch mode.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 1, the refill detection element being mechanical, or being of some other kind.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 1, the detection element comprising a projecting element disposed in an insertion guide of the accommodating structure, against which the refill bears when it is inserted into the insertion guide in order to allow the detection of the refill.
 10. An article for a hair treatment device as claimed in claim 1, which is configured to be mounted removably on the accommodating structure such that its presence is detected by the detection element of the device.
 11. The article as claimed in claim 10, which does not contain any cosmetic product.
 12. The article as claimed in claim 10, comprising a means for fastening to the accommodating structure.
 13. The article as claimed in claim 12, the fastening means having the overall shape of a T slotted in the middle in cross section.
 14. The article as claimed in claim 21, one of the profile elements comprising, at its proximal end, a hook-shaped holding projection that is intended to engage with a clip of the device in order to keep the refill in position on the latter.
 15. The article as claimed in claim 10, which is able to be inserted into and removed from the device more than once.
 16. The article as claimed in claim 10, which is configured not to come into contact with the lock of hair treated by the device and/or a pressing element of the device when the device is being used to treat the hair.
 17. A range of accessories for a device for treating the hair, comprising at least two accessories, one of the accessories being a refill containing a hair treatment product, the other of the accessories being an article as claimed in claim
 10. 18. An assembly of a device as claimed in claim 1 and an article for the device which is configured to be mounted removably on the accommodating structure such that its presence is detected by the detection element of the device.
 19. The device as claimed in claim 4, the temperature adjustment range of the heated straightening plate being reduced or the heated straightening plate being switched off when the steam generator is in the refill-free mode.
 20. The device as claimed in claim 7, the temperature of the heated straightening plate being modified in the finishing-touch mode and the heated straightening plate being switched off in the refill-free mode.
 21. The article as claimed in claim 12, the fastening means comprising two profile elements that engage in an insertion guide of the accommodating structure along which the article moves when it is fitted on the device and when it is removed from the latter. 